Two Postdoctoral Positions available with the recently established USDA lab in Davis, CA!

Pollinator Health Postdoctoral position

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available at the USDA-ARS Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit located in Davis, California. The research team is seeking a broadly trained biologist that has experience with bees and plant-insect interactions. Ideal candidates will possess a thorough knowledge of chemical ecology, behavior and physiology.
 
Additional preferred qualifications include strong theoretical and statistical skills, and proficiency in experimental design and data analyses. Supplemental knowledge of molecular techniques and plant floral chemistry are desirable. Demonstrated ability in oral and written communication of research results is required.
 
The successful candidate will participate in research projects that integrate longitudinal studies and apply nutritional ecology framework to improve honey bee health and colony performance. Building on the applied value of plant-pollinator mutualisms and chemical ecology, the successful applicant will develop tools to assay colony and worker performance under laboratory and field conditions and explore interactions between the different honey bee genotypes and their nutritional environment.
 
Qualifications:
Ph.D. in biology, ecology, entomology or a closely-related field.
US citizenship is required.

​To apply, please send an application package that includes a cover letter, current CV and contact information for 3 references to arathi.seshadri@usda.gov

To Read More CLICK HERE

Research Assignment

The lab of Dr. Julia D. Fine at the USDA-ARS located in Davis, California is seeking applications for a postdoc interested in studying and assessing factors that contribute to managed honey bee population losses and in developing and implementing methods to assess the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on honey bee reproduction. The focus will be on conducting laboratory experiments in conjunction with large scale field experiments to identify both the individual physiological effects and population level responses to stressors. Initial funding is for two years with renewal dependent on performance and availability of funds.


1. Assigned Responsibility
The incumbent will conduct independent and collaborative research on the effects of pesticides, parasites, pathogens, and nutrition on honey bee health, behavior, and development to support the objectives of the long-term research project. The primary focus will be the elucidation of factors that enhance or hinder the longevity and performance of honey bee colonies, examining the effects of stressors both alone and in combination on various aspects of honey bee biology. The incumbent will work as a member of a research team that includes a supporting technician.


2. Research Objectives and Methodology
The objective of the research is to characterize threats to honey bee colony populations and identify methods to mitigate them, with particular focus on identifying the effects of stressors on honey bee queens and on interactions between queens and workers. Examples of known threats include exposure to agrochemicals, limited nutritional options, parasitic infestations, and exposure to new or worsening pathogen infections. The incumbent will use both novel and established tools to assay queen and worker performance, reproductive output, and brood development when exposed to various stressors both in the laboratory and in the field. The work will be published in support of cooperative research efforts conducted by USDA-ARS and regional, state, and Federal agencies that manage land and/or water resources.

​To Read More and Learn How to Apply CLICK HERE